Radio apparatus



Jan. 10, 1928.

D. F. lASBLJRY 1656092 RADIO APPARATUS Filed Dec. l5, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet l nfl nnnnn Jan. .10', '1928. 1,656,092

y D. F. ASBURY RADIO APPARATUS Filed Dec. 15, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 1o, 1928. 1,656,092

' D. F. ASBURY RADI O APPARATU S Filed Dec. 15. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 rPatented Jan. v10, 1,928.

UNITED STATES DORSEY F. ASBURY, OF BROCHES ISLAND, MARYLAND.

RADIO APPARATUS.

Application filed December 15,1926.` Serial No. 155,016. I

My invention relates to radio apparatus and has particular reference to improvements in operating means for the movable parts of tuning units, such, for eiiample, as variable plate condensers, my object being to provide an operating means of simple, 1nexpensive construction whereby the movable parts of a plurality of tuning units may 'be connected for convenient collective and 1ndividual operation for the various purposes set forth in my prior applications serially numbered 683,756; 689,338; 10,293; 72,514; 80,833; 89,443; 91,197; 95,138; 98,558v and 108,074, and in my Patents 1,598,415; 1,598,441; 1,605,804 and 1,605,805.

My inventive idea is capable of embodiment iii different mechanical structures, certain of which are shown in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that the structures shown are intended merely as disclosures of my invention in certain preferred forms and that its scope is as defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the dierent views Fig. 1 is a horizontal section through a plural tuning unit radio apparatus showing my` improved operating mechanism in apreferred form embodied therein;

Fig. 2, a longitudinal section through the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 with the addition of a universal joint in the main shaft of my improved operating means;

Fig. 3, an end view of my mechanism;

Fig. 4, a transverse section yon the line 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5, a detail perspective view showing a preferred arrangement for yieldably supporting my improved operatin mechanism;

Fig. 6, a detail perspective s owing a preferred form of means for holding the laterally movable shaft of my operating mechanism in different laterally adjusted positions; A

Fig. 7a detail sectional view showing a slight modification of my operating mechanism;

Fig. 8, a detail sectional view showing another slight modication of my operating mechanism; p Fig. 9, a horizontal section through a plural tuning unit radio apparatus showing a structural arrangement diiferent from the .preceding figures of the drawings, but embodying the same inventive idea as is disclosed in said preceding figures; and

Fig. 10, a front view of the mechanism sliojvnl in Fig. 9. l Referring to the drawings in detail, particularly to Figures 1 to 6, it will be observed that the tuning units, the movable parts of which are intended to be operated collectively or individually by my improved operating mechanism are indicated in this instance as being in the form of variable plate condensers, each including, as usual, a set of stator plates a and a set of rotor plates Z), the vlatter constituting the movable parts of said units. It is to be understood, however, that the trated herein as variable plate condensers merely for convenience, since they may be of.

any other form, such, for example, the only essential being that each include a part movable to edect tuning thereof in order that my improved mechanism may be adapted to their operation.

In the preferred embodiment of my invenas coils, of them v tion the tuning units are mounted in a row.

in relative spaced relation with the axes of their rotor shafts 10 disposed in alinement with one another, but this is not essential as will appear by reference to'Figures 9 and 10 of the drawings in which the rotor shafts of the tuning units are disposed in parallel- .'Sm. c In any event, in carrying out my invention, the rotor shaft 10 of each tunin unitI is equippedwith a gear wheel 12, and a plurality of pinions 14 are provided, one for each tuning unit, arranged, respectively, in mesh with the gear wheels 12, said pinions being aiixed to a shaft 16 with the result that upon rotation of said shaft said pinions rotate their associated gear wheels 12 and collective movement thus is imparted to the movable parts of the diiferent tuningy units. Shaft V16 may be in the form of a single tuning units are illuslength of inherently resilient material as f lateral movement of the individual pinions for effecting individual movement of Vthe movable parts of the tuning units. In other Words, each inion 14 is rotatable and also movable bodl y laterally or in a direction at an angle to its axis of rotation and with respect to its associated gear wheel 12 to rotate said gear wheel, but due to the fixed connection of said pinions with shaft 16, rotation of any pinion must necessarily result in collective rotation of all of them with consequent collective operation of the movable parts of all of the different tuning units, whereas, due to the iexibility of shaft 16, any given pinion may be moved bodily laterally individually to effect movement of the movable part of its` Y associated tuning unit individually, it being apparent that in any instance where three or more tuning units are connected together for collect-ive and individual operation by my mechanism, the frictional resistance of two or more is always present to -prevent rotation ofthe shaft'16 whenever the latter is moved laterally to cause one of the pinions to effect rotation of its associated gear wheel 12 individually. f

The tuningunits preferably are mounted upon the base 20 of a suitable cabinet which is inclusive of afront wall or panel 22 and an end wall 24,- the shaft 16 extending throu h an opening 26 'inl the end wall 24 where y it may be `equi ped, exteriorly of the cabinet, with a sultalble operating knob 28, opening 26 being elongated to permit lateral movement of the shaft, and a device 30 being provided to hold Vsaidshaft in yany laterally moved position in which it may be placed, said device being secured to the end -fwvx/.alla24and consisting preferably of a pair no of sfpringmtongues 32, 32 between which the sha t extends and which frictionally grip the's'am'e, although any other suitable means may be employed in lieu of said device to accomplish the urpose thereof.

In the embo iments of my invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 it will be noted that the gear wheel 12 of the tuning unit nearest the end wall 24 of the cabinetl is lo- Vwcated' exteriorl of the cabinet and has formed integra ly therewith a dial 34 having graduations thereon cooperating with a .pointer 36 carried by said end wall for the convenience of the operator of the apparatus in determining the collectively operated ositions of the movable parts of the respective tuning units. Obviously, however, the dial and pointer are not essential and may be dispensed with, but whether a dial is or is not used' it is equally manifest that the gear wheel and pinion of the tuning unit nearest the endwall 24 of the cabinet may as readily be located within the cabinet as outside of the same.

The shaft16 adjacent to each tuning unit other than the one nearest the end wall 24 aesaoaa ing through said panel and being equipped exteriorly ofthe casing with an operating knob 42 and at its inner end being in screw threadedv engagement with a block 44 having an opening or recess 46 inwhich the shaft 16 takes bearing. The portions of screw member 38y which engage the block 44 and bushing are, respectively, provided with right and left hand screw threads as shown, or with threads of different pitch, so that upon rotation of the screw member the block 44 may be moved inwardly or outwardly as desired with consequent lateral movement or flexure of the shaft 16 to produce the necessary bodily lateral movement of the adjacent pinion 14 for eecting individual movement of the movable part of its associated tuning unit. A leaf spring 48 secured at one end to the panel 22 bears at its other' end upon block 44 to maintain the adjacent pinion 14 in mesh with its associated gear wheel 12 and to prevent rotation of said block, to which end said spring preferably includes a pair of tongues 50 engaging opposite sides of the block 44.

Instead of screw devices for effecting lateral movement of different portions of the shaft 16, this result may be accomplished by a pivoted lever 52 as shown in Fig. 7 or by a rod 54 slidable in a suitable bearing 56 and frictipnally retained in different positions of adjustment by a leaf spring 58 as shown inn '.Fig. 8, this latter arrangement being usable also .in lieu of the-'device 30 as is obvious.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the knob 28 and shaft 16 provides means for rotating the pinions 14 collectively to impart movement to themovable parts of the tuning vunits collectively and that the screw members 38 with their associated movable parts provide means for moving portions of the shaft 16 laterally to produce bodil lateral movement of the pinions 14 indivi ually to effect movement of the movable parts of the tuning units individually, it thus being a relatively quick simple operation to first bring all of the tuning units substantially into tune with any selected wavelength and then to bring each unit individually into accu rate tune with that wave length, all as set forth more fully in my aforesaid prior applications and patents.

To individually adjust the movable part of the tuning unit located nearest to the end wall 24 of the cabinet the knob 28 simply is moved laterally, but if desired a screw member such as 38 or either of the structures shown 1n Figures 7 and 8 may be assoiat ' malning ciated with the shaft 16 adjacent to said tunin unit for individually operating the mova le part thereof.

When any individual pinion 14 is moved bodily laterally its tendency to rotate about its associated gear wheel 12 instead of to rotate said gear wheel is prevented as aforesaid by the frictional resistance of the reunits.

In Figures 9 and 10 of the drawin I have illustrated an arrangement whic is essentially 'the same in mode of operation and result as the arran ement shown in Fi ures 1 and 2, the ditlgerence being that 1n Figures 9 and 10 the tuning units are arranged with the axes of the shafts of their movable parts in parallelism instead of alinement as in the preferred embodiment of my invention.

On the rotor shaft 10 each of the two tuning units included in the embodiment of my invention shown in Figures 9 and 10 is secured a gear wheel 12 and meshing with each gear wheel is a pinion 14. Said pinions are secured respectively to a pair of shafts 16', 16 which are of suitable length and connected to ether Afor collective rotation by gear wheel through a slot in a panel 22 and one of them is equipped with a dial 34 and the other with a knob 62. They are supported adjacient to the gears`60 in suitable bearings 64 whereby they may be liexed to permit bodily lateral movement of the respective pinions for individually o erating the movable parts of their associate tuning, units in the same manner set forth in connection with the preferred embodiment of my invention, and devices 30. are provided to hold them in any laterally moved position in which they may be placed. By rotating either shaft the movable parts of the tuning units Vmanifestly are caused to be moved collectively, and by lateral iiexure of either shaft the movable part of its as sociatedtuning unit may be moved individually.

Form the foregoing description `considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of my improved operatin mechanism will be -fully understood. fgdesire to point out, however, that various modilications and additions other than those herein indicated ma be madein and to the structures shown wit in the spirit and scope of my invention as defined in the ap ended claims.

y claim:

1. In radio apparatus, a plurality of tuning 'units a part of each of which is movab e, a plurality of members individual to the movable parts of said unitsand constantly in driving engagement therewith, said members being rotatable to move said movable parts and also being bodily movable s 60.v Each shaft extends laterally to move said movable parts, and means rigidly connecting said members together as regards rotation and iiexibly connecting them together as regards lateral movement whereby rotary movement of any member will cause the movable part of all of the units to be moved collectively and Whereb said members may be moved laterall individually to move said movable parts in ividuall .2. In radio apparatus, a ing units a part of each oi which is movable, a driving member for the movable part of each unit constantly in driving engagement therewith, a shaft, each of said membersbeing mounted rigidly on said shaft whereb they are rotatable collectively to move tie movable parts of their associated tuning units collectively, said shaft being flexible whereby one of said members may be moved individually to move the movable palrlt of its associated tuning unit individua 3.yIn a radio apparatus, a plurality of tuning units a part of each of which'is movable, a plurality of members individual to the movable parts of said units and conplurality of tunstantly in driving engagement therewith,

said members being rotatable to move said movable parts and at least one of them also being bodily movable laterally to move its associated movable part, and a shaft rigidly connecting said members together as regards rotation whereby rotary movement of any member will produce collective rotation of all the members with consequent collective movement of the movable parts of all ofthe tuning units, a portion at least of said shaft being flexible whereby at least one of said members may be moved laterally individually to move its associated movable part individuall 4. In ra lio apparatus, a plurality of tuning units a part of each of which is-movable, a plurality of members individual to the movable parts of said units and constantly in driving engagement therewith, said members being rotatable to move said movable parts and at least one of them also being bodily movable laterall to move its associated movable part, a s aft rigidly connecting said members together as regards rotation whereby-rotary movement of any member will yproduce collective rotation of all of the members with consequent collective movement of the movable parts of all of the tuning units, a portion at least of said shaft being) flexible whereby at least one of said mem ers may be moved laterall individually to move its associated movable part individually, and means for laterally moving said laterally movable member.

5. In radio apparatus, a plurality of tuning units a part of each of which is movable, a plurality of members individual to the loo llO

v''morveble parts of said units and constantly in driving engagement therewith, said members being rotatable to move sald movable f larts and at least one of them also being Y laterally movable member,A and means for holding said .late'rall movable member in any ylaterally move position it may be placed.

6. 1n radio apparatus, a plurality of tuning .units a part of each of which is movable, a plurality of members individual to the movable parts of said units and constantly in driving engagement therewith, said members being rotatable to move said movable parts and also being bodily movable laterally to movepsaid movable parts, means rigidly connecting said members together as regards rotation and flexibly connecting them to lgether as regards lateralmovement wheref by rotary movement of any member will cause the movable parts of all of the units to be moved collectively and whereb said members may. be moved laterally in ividually to kmove said movable parts individually, and separate means for moving each of said members laterally individuali 7. In radio apparatus, aplurality of tungeeaeea in alinement, a spur gear fixed to the rotatable part of each unit, a shaft mounted parallel to the axes of the rotatable parts of said units, a plurality of pinions non-rotatably mounted on' said shaft and disposed, respectively, in driving engagementl with said gears, and means for rotating said shaft to cause said inions to rotate the rotatable parts of sai units collectivel a portion at least of said shaft being flexi le whereby at least one of said pinions may be moved laterally individually to produce rotation of its associated spur gear individually.

8. In radio apparatus, a plurality of tuning units a part of each of which is rotatable, said units being arranged in spaced relation with the axesI of their rotatable parts in alinement, a spur gear fixed to the'rotat 'ble part of each unit, a shaft mounted parallel tothe axes of the rotatable parts of said units, a plurality of pinions non-rotatably mounted on said shaft and disposed, re-

spectively, in driving engagement with -said gears, means for rotating said shaft to cause said pinions to rotate the rotatable arts of said units collectively, a portion at east of saidshaft being flexible'whereby at least one of said pinions may be, `moved laterally individually to produce rotation of its associated spur gear individually, and means forlaterally moving said laterally movable pinlon. p v

in testimony hereof l hereunto ax my signature. l

DOBSEY F, ASBURY Y 

